Mount Si Lutheran has been an integral part of the community of North Bend, Washington for over 60 years. The Church is a beautiful white steepled church that has been blessed by it's members and visitors. Ground breaking service for the new Mount Si Lutheran Church building started in December of 1950. Financing initially came from loans & donations from members of the congregation, and later from a mission loan fund. Labor was provided by members of the congregation who worked at their regular jobs during the day then spent many evenings and weekends at the church. Everyone helped in some way to support the effort. On November 11, 1951 the first services was held in the basement of the new church with 117 in attendance, double the number of members who had started the church just two years earlier.
- January 23, 1949
First service of mission Congregation. Held in the community Methodist Church in Fall City. Led by Rev L. Myron Lindblom, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Seattle, which was the sponsoring congregation. - June 19, 1949
Mount Si Lutheran Congregation was organized with 55 charter members, guided by Rev. Lindblom. The church name was chosen for the beloved mountain which dominates the Valley. - March 12, 1950
Rev. Paul Gerlach was installed and served as the first full time pastor. Services were held at the legion hall in Snoqualmie until November 1951. - December 10,1950
Ground breaking service for the new Mount Si Lutheran Church building. Financing initially came from loans & donations from members of the congregation, and later from a mission loan fund. Labor was provided by members of the congregation who worked at their regular jobs during the day then spent many evenings and weekends at the church. Everyone helped in some way to support the effort. - November 11,1951
The first services was held in the basement of the new church with 117 in attendance, double the number of members who had started the church just two years earlier. "We first met in the basement of the church and had moveable dividers put in for Sunday School classes. It was like a big family and those days were real fun. We all got acquainted and worked together" (Audrey Johnson). - November 30, 1952
The church and parsonage are dedicated. Total cost to construct & equip both buildings is $43,000. "It was almost all voluntary labor. Never had any among us ever worked so hard, or known a more joyous experience as we labored together, in a bond of close fellowship" (Viola McCullough). - October 4, 1953
The organ, pews and carpeting are dedicated. Before the pews were installed, members sat on folding chairs. These chairs were packed back & forth each Sunday between the sanctuary for worship service and the basement for Sunday School. The men and boys who packed the chairs were very relieved to give up this duty when the pews arrived. "The women of the church cooking for Toastmaster, Weyerhaeuser businessmen and other catered affairs helped the church purchase the first Wurlitzer organ and other needed things"(Rosemary Coverdale). - 1953 - 1955
Dedication of the lectern, pulpit, baptismal font and alter. All were built by Ernest Johnson, an early member of the church. Each piece was paid for by member donations. Costs to build these? pieces: Alter $48.35, Baptismal Font and Alter rail $27.81, Pulpit $20.98, Lectern $5.63, Candelabra and Candle Sticks $16.00. - February 2,1958
Rev. Armin Reitz installed. - February 8, 1959
Two lots east of the church are purchased for $2000 for parking and future expansion. - June 14, 1959
10th Anniversary observed. - November 11, 1962
The congregation votes to purchase a new pipe organ. - November 18, 1962
The stained glass window above the altar is dedicated. It is paid for by Memorial funds at a cost of $460. The window is installed with the help of a Puget Power Lift Truck. - December 8, 1963
The new seven rank pipe organ is dedicated. The total Cost is $6350. - June 1965
The stained glass window in the entryway is installed for $140. - November 1965
Rev. Wesley L. Sackman installed. - March 1966
Congregation votes to purchase additional five lots for $5500 for future expansion. - January 1967
Building committee is established to plan for Education & Fellowship Building. - April 15, 1973
Ground breaking for the new building held on palm Sunday. Funding came from member donations and a bank loan. - September 16, 1973
Education & Fellowship building is dedicated. "This building was built by three paid workers with a great deal of support from volunteers. The project which the architect estimated would cost $120,000 was built for approximately $60,000"(Fred Marshall). - September 1977
Artist member, Adolph Hienzsch, presents congregation with the gift of a wood carved statue of Teacher and Child. Originally intended for display outdoors, the congregation votes to place in narthex to better preserve its beauty. - February 1, 1979
Old siding removed and new redwood siding placed on the church. - June 16,1979
30th Anniversary Celebration. - June 1980
Founder's Day Celebration. - June 16, 1985
Rev. R. Peter Anderson installed. - January 1990
Committee formed to plan for access modifications to church facilities. - April 1992
Elevator installed in church and upstairs bathrooms made accessible. - July 1992
Front steps of church reformed, handicapped parking pads and additional sidewalks installed. - April 1993
Access modifications done on bathrooms in fellowship building. - May 8, 1993
Mission statement written. - October 9, 1993
Vision emphasis developed. - November 1995
Congregation votes to allow Pastor Anderson to move out of parsonage and purchase his own home. Started renting out the parsonage in summer of 1996. - September 2000
Rev. Peter Anderson Retires an interim Pastor Mikkel Hustad installed. - September 2000
Congregations continues to prepare for new pastor. Congregation uses ELCA Pastor decision process. - Febuary 3, 2002
Call Pastor Paul Hermansen from Kiaser Oregon - Febuary 25, 2002
Remodeled the Parsonage kitchen after a leak was discovered in the walls under the sink. This turned out to be a blessing because the wall was ripe for a disaster. - March 23, 2002
Installed Pastor Paul at Mt Si Lutheran - March 30, 2008 Pastor Paul Hermanson's last sermon at Mount Si Lutheran.
- April 6, 2008 interim Pastor Tim Wolbrecht begins.
- September 12, 2009 Pastor Mark Griffith installed at Mount Si Lutheran.
Stained Glass Window History
Memorial Stained Glass Window  Stain Glass Window in Santuary Psalm 121 is portrayed in our stained class window.
- See the Mountain in all three panels
- The Cross is the symbol of Gods supreme help to man in His Son, our Savior
- The Red Curtain tells us that Christ's sacrifice opened the way to God. God Gives us the blessings of the cross thought the Word & Sacraments.
- The Dove and Three Streams of Water depict Baptism.
- The Grapes, Chalice and Wheat represent Holy Communion.
- A Path leads from the Cross. our Christian life begins at the cross, and in this life the Lord is our keeper.
- The Sun is in the top left panel.
- The Moon and Stars are in the top right panel.
- The Fire on both sides of the path, center panel. symbolizes the temptations and trials of life.
- In the Christian life pathway, the Load leads us into Faith, Hope and Love
- You can find Your Home in the bottom of either side panel. The Lord keeps us in His loving care in this life and He keeps us to all eternity in the heavenly home He has prepared us.
Entry Window  Stainglass Window in Narthex Elements are: - The hand of Christ with Wound; the hand of man rising from the world, overcoming both moral death and physical death.
- The hands represent union of Christ and man together with the Eucharisttic Chalice(Abstract behind hands).
- Rising from the chalice is a cross of red and gold, suggesting that Christ's death on the cross freed man from moral death if he extends his hand for Jesus' aid.
- The purple color at the very top is the garment symbolic of the sacrificial offering Christ made of Himself for us.
- The entree design is meant to act as a introductory message prior to one's entering the sanctuary.
Martin Luther History
Martin Luther dealt the symbolic blow that began the Reformation when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church. That document contained an attack on papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials. But Luther himself saw the Reformation as something far more important than a revolt against ecclesiastical abuses. He believed it was a fight for the gospel. Luther even stated that he would have happily yielded every point of dispute to the Pope, if only the Pope had affirmed the gospel. And at the heart of the gospel, in Luther's estimation, was the doctrine of justification by faith--the teaching that Christ's own righteousness is imputed to those who believe, and on that ground alone, they are accepted by God. Read More... ELCA History
Mount Si Lutheran is an independant member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America resulted from a union of three North American Lutheran church bodies: The American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America. The three churches agreed to unite in 1982. They formed a 70-member Commission for a New Lutheran Church, which planned the merger. The plan was approved by church conventions in 1986, and the ELCA constituting convention was held April 30-May 3, 1987, with the church actually beginning operations on January 1, 1988. The ELCA meets in assembly every two years; at its 2001 Churchwide Assembly it elected its third bishop, The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, who will be eligible for re-election at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. Read More... |